Education is a treasure

Winner:

Every living being is exposed to the learning process. Both man and animal learn various things throughout their lives. For example, a puppy or a kitten or even a birdling watches its parents and learns how to act and live from them.

Humans too learn various things by observing people and events around them. Therefore, we cannot say that learning is limited to books.

However, we should pay a lot of attention to what we learn at school. All children have the right to education.

From the moment a child is first introduced to the alphabet, he is in the process of learning, to either become a doctor, engineer, teacher, scientist or a qualified person to work in some other field.

We possess many valuable things in life which could be robbed or taken away from us but, no one can rob the knowledge we have gained throughout life. So, open your mind to learning and make the best use of it until you reach your goals.

Lasantha Sampath Kumara,

Grade 9 - B,

Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya, Moratuwa.
 

Why we should learn English

Winner:

Even though there are many languages in the world, English is the foremost. Learning English is a great advantage. We never know when it would come in use. It is understood and spoken almost everywhere in the world. English has become the key instrument of globalisation. What is paramount today is knowing how to use English rather than just knowing it.

English is the only language that Germans, Chinese, Japanese and the Russians are also keen to learn, although their languages are as developed as English. Let us see its importance to us as school children. We are aware that almost all universities conduct scientific studies in the English medium. The English language is used all over the globe for transactions in international trade. English is the language used at the United Nations too.

If we want to obtain information on computers, CDs and the Internet, English is the only medium to get this information. Competence in English has become so important that only those who have a good command of the language secure good jobs.

English is a gift from Britain. It was introduced to all the countries under British rule.

At present English plays a vital role in Sri Lanka because many speak the language and use it widely. It is very important that we learn the language well. That is why English is taught in schools as a second language.

Bagya Liyanage,

Grade 8, Royal English School, Matale.

Impact of tourism

Winner:

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country surrounded by blue water. Many people used to call Sri Lanka the Pearl of the Indian Ocean because of its natural beauty. As it is an island it has thousands of miles of beautiful golden sandy beaches, fringed with coconut palms.

The middle of the country known as the hill country comprises hills covered in green trees and shrubs. The climate is pleasant with an average temperature of around 27 degrees Celsius.

Tourists like to visit Sri Lanka from November to April when the weather conditions are perfect for water sports. Most of our beach resorts offer water sports such as sailing, surfing and boating. The lovely beaches at Negombo, Kalutara, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and also the North and the East areas which are now free from conflict, attract many tourists. These beaches are covered with miles of clear shallow water and coral gardens.

The beaches are not the only attraction. Ancient cities such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya are very popular sites among the tourists. The botanical gardens at Peradeniya, Haggala and Gampaha and also the wildlife sanctuaries at Yala, Wilpattu and Kumana attract many tourists.

Our traditional ceremonies such as the Esala Perehera held in Kandy and fire-walking at Kataragama display our rich culture to the tourists. The hospitality of the Sri Lankan people is another factor that attracts tourists to our country.

Sri Lanka offers a wide variety of food of quality at reasonable prices. There are star class hotels as well as inexpensive resorts for travellers with small budgets.

Sri Lanka is now popularising the concept of home stay tourism, whereby tourists are given a choice to stay in local homes.

Like in most everything in life, tourism too has its positive and negative side. While tourism paves the way to earn foreign exchange and employment for the people, it also brings practices that are harmful to our culture. Drug trafficking and abuse of poor children for immoral acts are just two of them.

Dilini Tissera,

Grade 11,

Hillwood College, Kandy.

What biodiversity means to me

Winner:

Biodiversity means the variety of species living on Earth. Sri Lanka is a tropical island and rich in its species of fauna and flora. Fauna means all creatures such as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, worms and microorganisms. Trees and plants such as grass, ferns, moss and lichens are called flora. There are lots of endemic species of fauna and flora found in our country.

What is endemicity? It means that the particular species is found only in Sri Lanka. The Ceylon jungle fowl, (National bird) Ceylon White Eye, the Iron Wood tree (National tree) and also the Sri Lankan Bird Wing which is our National butterfly are a few such examples.

It is our responsibility to protect biodiversity in Sri Lanka. We can start from our own gardens by planting fruit trees and flowering plants. When our gardens are full of trees and flowers lots of insects and animals will be attracted. The bigger creatures such as birds and squirrels come to our gardens to eat the fruits and insects. We can observe lifecycles of butterflies and other insects in the garden. Birds build nests when there are trees.

This year has been dedicated as the International Year of Biodiversity. It is our duty to minimise environmental pollution and protect biodiversity.

Bhagya Pandithakorlege,

Grade 7 S, St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 7.

My hobby

People everywhere need money to carry out work and purchase goods and services. As there are different kinds of notes and coins that are used in different countries, my hobby is collecting them.

I have many coins and notes of different countries in my collection.

They are American dollars, Indian rupees, Chinese yen, Saudi Arabian riyals and Sri Lankan rupees.

I also have the half cents, copper cents, a Buddha Jayanthi coin, one rupee coins and one rupee notes in my collection. Long ago they used this money. These are of more value today because it's very difficult to find them.

My parents help me to find the uncommon coins. In my collection my favourite note is the one rupee note. My favourite coin is the Buddha Jayanthi coin. I hope to increase my collection in the future.

Nafeel Jisthy,

Grade 8, Hejaaz International School, Mt. Lavinia.

The rainy seasons of Sri Lanka

Winner:

The rainy seasons are the times when the earth that has been dried for months, gets its quota of water. The water the earth takes in helps make the area look fresh and green once again. Thus we can say that the rainy season gives it a new lease of life; freshness and renowned strength to live.

In Sri Lanka we experience two main rainy seasons. One is called the South-West Monsoon and the other is called the North-East Monsoon. In between these two monsoons, there are other rainy seasons popularly called the Inter-Monsoonal rains.

The North-East Monsoon occurs from November to February and the South-West Monsoon lasts from May to August. The Inter-Monsoonal rains are experienced from March to April and again from September to October.

The North-East and the South-West Monsoons have heavy rains with strong winds and thunder along with lightning. The Inter-Monsoons have slight rains, mainly in the evening or at night. The Inter-Monsoonal rains don't have strong winds, but come with lightning.

There are disadvantages and advantages caused by these monsoons. The advantages are the farmers get enough water for their cultivations and also there is plenty of water for people to use as well as for animals to drink and plants to grow. The major drawbacks are natural disasters such as landslides and floods which cause damage to property as well as all living beings. In some instances paddy fields are badly affected because of clogging. When too much rain water remains in the paddy fields for a long period, it damages the crop. Thus, the rainy season is a boon and a bane for the country and the people.

Dileepa Tissera,

Grade 7 - M, Ecole Internationale, Kandy.

Sinhala and Hindu New Year

Sinhala and Hindu New Year usually falls in April. The Hindus and the Buddhists celebrate the new year on April 14 each year. There is unity within the Sinhalese and Hindu communities during the new year, because, they share many traditional customs. The Sinhalese go to the temple and the Hindus go to the kovil early in the morning. They colour wash their houses and wear new clothes.

The singing of the koel can be heard and erabadhu flowers could be seen in bloom during the new year season.

The Sinhala and Hindu New Year promotes unity between the Sinhalese and Hindus. The Sinhalese share their food with the Hindus and Hindus also share their food with the Sinhalese.

People go to their hometowns and visit relatives during the season. Many organise games and special programmes such as Avurudhu Uthsava and Avurudu Melas. Various games, namely kotta pora, tug-o-war, kana mutti, and climbing the greasy pole are held. Avurudu kumaraya and kumari are also chosen.The Sinhalese and Hindus celebrate this in a joyful manner. This annual festival fosters unity and happiness among the Sinhalese and the Tamils.

Aksha Rashini Jayasin.

Grade - 8 G, Kingston College

International, Mutwal.